EUSEC REPORT ON REFORM OF MILITARY PAYMENT SYSTEM

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 002067 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2015 TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO ASEC CG SUBJECT: EUSEC REPORT ON REFORM OF MILITARY PAYMENT SYSTEM ACCEPTED Classified By: PolCouns MSanderson, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) European Union military experts produced an extensive report in July 2005 outlining structural changes in the military payment system (among other changes) which would help to address the pervasive failure of the GDRC regularly to pay its troops. This report was presented officially to the GDRC in August, and essentially disappeared into a bureaucratic limbo, lingering on the agenda of the Supreme Defense Council for four months. The Council did finally approve the report, with some amendments, December 9. ¶2. (C) National Security Advisor Samba Kaputo and Defense Minister Adolphe Onusumba outlined (separately) for PolCouns the suggested changes, which were accepted by General Joana, head of the EU military mission. Essentially, rather than have both the payment and audit functions installed in the Ministry of Defense, the Congolese proposed placing the payment mechanism in the Ministry but having the audit function rest with the Chief of Staff of the Army. (Comment: This division of responsibility reflects the political realities of the transitional government, since by separating the functions the RCD -- to which Defense Minister Onusumba belongs -- will oversee payment, but the PPRD -- to which Army Chief of Staff General Kisempia belongs -- will still retain a role in the form of the audit function. End Comment.) ¶3. (C) The approval opens the door for the EU to begin implementing the structure, which will involve placing international officers in field divisions (brigade and battalion level) to receive salary payments sent from Kinshasa under the supervision of international staff in the Ministry of Defense. General Joana hopes to have the system operational before national elections (i.e., March/April). ¶4. (C) Comment: The GDRC's failure to ensure regular payment of military salaries, at least to the six integrated brigades, has been a neuralgic issue feeding insecurity on the ground and prompting CIAT (the International Committee to Accompany the Transition) to issue a stiff public rebuke to the GDRC on November 25. EUSEC's willingness to tackle the problem was heralded in the summer and, even coming late as it does, can still make an important difference in pre-electoral stability, particularly in the eastern Congo. However, more extensive training for the Congolese military will be needed to develop a professional quartermaster corps capable of ensuring timely salary payments as well as provision of supplies. During his recent visit to the U.S, Minister Onusumba repeatedly emphasized the GDRC's hope that the U.S. military will play an important role in that project. MEECE